Also highly recommended is the Airplane Superstore at IAD, by the Air France ticket counter. They have a complete selection of die-cast and plastic aircraft models and related merchandise. I've only dealt with them mail-order (and their service is excellent).

I primarily collect the 1:400 scale range of die-cast models made by GeminiJets and Dragon Wings. Herpa also makes 1:400 but it is nowhere near as popular as their 1:500 line, which now has some competition with the introduction of StarJets (essentially a 1:500 line made in the same factory as GeminiJets.)

The Smithsonian NASM store on the observation deck level of BWI has mostly Schabaks and 1:500 Herpas, but the last time I visited there was well over a year ago.


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AlphaSigOU
Causa latet vis est notissima - the cause is hidden, the results are well-known.